Power operated repeat carriage letter spacing mechanism for typewriters or like machines



Dec. 27. 1955 w. H. KUPPER 2,728,436

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERSOR LIKE MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 7, 1953 Dec. 27. 1955 w. H.KUPPER 2,

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING WRITERS OR LIKE MACHINESMECHANISM FOR TYPE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed y 7. 1953 Dec. 27, 1955 w. H.KUPPER 2,728,436

POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FOR TYPEWRITERSOR LIKE MACHINES Filed May 7, 1953 s Sheets-Sheet s 0 1 03.5, /JZZ6 1;;25 70 Q 5,17: I 7 13 i? v A 2'9 ,2 15 71 6) i 49 O 6 x 25 (l l; 7

l 'IIII'I INVENTOR. l/fl/fa n HffuFer BY afm r ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent POWER OPERATED REPEAT CARRIAGE LETTER SPACING MECHANISM FORTYPEWRITERS OR LIKE MACHINES William H. Kupper, West Hartford, Conn,assignpr to Royal McBee Corporation, a corporation of New ltorkApplication May 7, 1953, Serial No. 353,602

14 Claims. (Cl. 197-82) This invention relates to power operatedcarriage letter spacing mechanism for typewriters or like machines, andmore particularly to power operated mechanism for effecting repeatedletter spacing incremental movements of the machine carriage under thecontrol of a manually operable spacing control key.

An object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism of the classreferred to, including a continuously operating rotary cam and a camfollower adapted to be operated by the cam under the control of amanually manipulatable key for eifecting repeated operations of acarriage escapement mechanism by repeated operations of the camfollower.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the characterreferred to in which the cam and cam follower normally are so relativelyoff-set axially with respect to the cam axis of rotation that thefollower will not be operated by the cam, means being provided foreffecting shifting of the cam or the follower relatively to itsassociated cam component so as to cause the follower to be operated bythe cam.

Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the kindreferred to including a cushioned drive transmitting connection betweenthe cam mechanism and the escapement mechanism adapted to minimizeabruptness of operation of the escapement mechanism, avoid jamming ofthe parts, and minimize noise and vibration.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading ofthe following description, the appended claims, and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view, partly in elevation and partly in vertical section,fore and aft of a typewriter embodying the invention, showing only someof the conventional or standard typewriter parts in order to illustratethe appli cation of mechanism embodying the invention to a typewriterconstruction;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view, some parts beingshown in elevation and other parts being omitted, all of the illustratedparts being shown in their normal positions;

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,drawn on an enlarged scale and showing escapement mechanism andactuating mechanism therefor, some parts being shown in elevation;

Figure 4 is a detailed sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a detailed sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a key; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a cam follower and actuator levermember shown in its operative relationship to a supporting bracket.

The invention may be embodied in typewriters or like machines of variouskinds. For the purpose of illustration, the invention is shown as beingembodied'in an oflice type typewriter having, except for the powermechanism to be described, many features in common with the well knownRoyal Standard typewriter. The drawings show only enough of the standardor known typewriter construction to assist in illustrating the manner inwhich mechanism embodying the invention may be coordinated with otherparts of a typewriter construction.

The known construction illustrated includes a main frame A on which acarriage is mounted for letter spacing and return movement by means of atop rail 1 secured to and forming part of the carriage, and rolling uponballs 2, which in turn are adapted to roll on a frame-mounted bottomrail or track 3.

The carriage may be driven toward the left, that is, in theletter-spacing direction, by any suitable mechanism, for example, by aconventional spring barrel and draw band (not shown).

For controlling the feeding of the carriage in letterspacing directionto take place by letter space increments, the carriage is equipped witha rack 4 (Figure 1), cooperable with an escapement mechanism generallydesignated B. With exceptions to be pointed out hereinafter, theescapement mechanism is similar to mechanisms custetnarily embodied inRoyal Standard or manually operated typewriters, and includes anescapement pinion 5 coupled by a ratchet pawl (not shown) with anescapement wheel 6 journaled on a pin 7 carried by a framemountedbracket 8. The bracket 8 is equipped with coneshaped bearing screws 9-9extending into conformingly shaped bearing recesses in mounting ears10-40 integral with an oscillatable escapement rocker plate element 11.Rocking of the plate part 11 in one direction on the screws 99 islimited by a stop finger 12 secured to the bracket 8 by screws 13. Thefinger 12 extends from behind the plate 11 forwardly past the plate, isthen turned so as to extend parallel to and in front of the plate, andhas its extreme end part 12 projected rearwardly so as to be engageableby a part of the plate above the pivots 99 when the upper part of theplate is rocked forwardly, that is toward the left as viewed in Figure2. Rocking of the plate in the opposite direction is limited by a stopfinger 14 secured to the bracket 8 by screws 15, and having a part 14projecting forwardly through an opening 16 in the bracket 8 so as to beengageable with the rear face of the upper part of the rocker plate 11when the latter is rocked rearwardly, that is, toward the right asviewed in Figure 2. Either or both of the fingers 12 and 14 can be bent,mauled, or otherwise deformed so as to adjust the limits of rocking ofthe plate 11.

The plate 11 is equipped with the usual fixed dog 17 and limber dog 18pivoted on the plate as at 19, and urged counterclockwise as viewed inFigure 3 by a spring 20 interposed between a heel 21 on the limber dogand an ear 22 on the rocker plate 11. An abutment screw 23 has threadedconnection with a;boss or lug 24 on the back of the plate 11, and can beadjusted for determining the limit of rocking of the limber dog 18 whenthe latter is engaged by a tooth of the escapement wheel 6. Anormalizing or return spring 25 is interposed between a part of therocker plate 11 above the pivots 9 and a sub-bracket 26 mountedunderneath the framemounted bracket 8 by a screw 27, the spring 25normally holding the rocker plate 11 in its Figure 2 position with thelimber dog 18 holding the escapement wheel 6 against rotation and hence,holding the carriage stationary. When the rocker plate 11 is oscillatedvback and forth, the dogs 17 and 18 will cooperate with the escapementwheel in a well known manner for effecting the desired letter-spacingincremental movements of the carriage.

In general, the parts described so far do not, in themselves, constitutethe present invention. The invention resides in other parts to bedescribed, and combinations of such other parts with each other and withparts already described.

arranges Broadlyconsidered, repeatedoscillation. of theplatell andrepeated incremental letter-space feeding of the carriage are effectedby power driven means generally desig natedtGWhi'ch-aremade-.eifectivel-by operator-controlled means D. including a manualllymanipulatable key- 28 Powers is: transmitted? from thepower driven-meansC through a trainnof drivingconnectionsE extending from the-;means.C to.the escapement mechanism B. The construction andiarrangementof the-partsis such that, upon depression of the key 28, quickly generated powerimpulses are transmittedrepeatedly through a. cushion device generallydesignated .Futo the-plate 11 to rock the latter clockwise as viewed inFigure 1-; each power impulse being-f shortiduration-and being followedby returning of?v the. plate. element 11 toitsnormal position by thenormalizing spring The power driven mechanism C includes acarn-memb61329. mountedt'on a shaftSiiwhich is adapted to be drivenzbypower. from any suitable source, for example,

anzelectric motor, not shown. The cam has a single lobe The:drivingconnections E include a shaft 32 which extends parallel'to theaxis of rotation-of the cam 29 and is supported by a bracket 33 securedto the frame A by a screw 34-, and a bracket 35 secured to the frame byscrews 36, 36; The shaft 32' is held against endwise movement,as-byrbeing secured in any suitable manner to the bracketsv :33 and935i. A compound follower lever and actuator lever member, generallydesignated 37, is mounted to both rock substantially in aplane-transverse to the axis of the shaft 32 and to shift or slide onthe shaft 32 in a direction at an angle to the plane referred to. Thefollowerlever memberdesignated 38 is equipped with a cam follower roller39 whichis adapted to be engaged by the carnlob'e 31 when the followerlever member 33 is in its operative position. The actuator lever part 40of the compound member37'is. formed with an operating nose 4-1; Thefollower lever member 38 and the actuator lever part40.are.joined by-aconnecting strap 42.

A coiled spring 43 surrounding the shaft 32 is interposedbetween theactuator arm 40 and a collar 44 fixed to the shaft-32, the spring 43being loaded under compression'so asto urge the compound member 37toward the right of the machine, that is, downwardly as viewed in Figure2, and to maintain the follower lever 38 in its nor.- mal position-inwhich it is offset from the cam 29 in a direction paraltel to the axisof the cam shaft 30 so as not to be engageable by the cam.

Mechanism for shifting thecompound member 37 so as to place the followerlever 38 and roller 39 in their operative positions in which the rolleris engageable by the. cam 29 includes a shifting lever 45 pivoted at 46on ashelfpart 47 of the bracket 35. The shifting lever 45 is formed'witha rounded nose 48 which bears againstthe actuator leverpart 4a) of thecompound member37. The shiftinglever'45 also has a rounded end part 49;received in'theforked'end 50 ofa lever 51 which is pivoted at.52 on thebracket shelf 47. The arrangement is such that rocking of the lever 51clockwise as viewed in Figure 2 willrock the shifting lever 45'counterclockwise, causing its nose-48 to push against the actuator lever40 and move thecompound member 37 to place the cam follower roller 39 inits operative position.

Mechanism operable by the key 28 is provided for rocking the lever 51.In the form shown, the lever 51 is pivoted at 53 to the rear end of alink 54, the front end of which is pivoted at 55 to a lever 56 which, inturn, is pivoted at 57 on a stationary bracket 58 secured to the frame Aby screws 5?. The lever 56 isprovided with a stud 60 which projectsunder an overlyingprojection 61 on the key 218. The key 2 8 isformedwith slotsfilwhich receive headed pins 63 carried by the fixedbracketSS.

In operation, when the key: 28 isdepressed, theiprojection 61 overlyingthe stud 6t) presses the latterdownwardly. soas to .rock the. lever/56,,thereby. pulling the link 54 forwardly and rocking, the lever 51clockwise as viewed in Figure 2. This will cause the cam follower roller39 to be shifted into its operative position in which it is engageableby the cam 29.

The cushioned motion transmitting connection F is interposed betweenthe. drivingconnections Band thees;

arm 66-of-a lever 67 provided-with pins or trunnions -3-68 by which itis pivoted-on a bracket 69-mou 'nt ed on the main escapement mechanismbracket 8;" The up; per end of the lever 67 has ama'rm 70"forrned'with'a rounded end 71 disposed immediately infront'o fthe' escapementrocker plate -1 1 above the pivots 99.

The arm 66-of the lever 67 has a 'rearwar dly offset ear 72 to which isanchored the rear end -of -a force-daily mitting cushion spring73; thefront end or which is connected in a hole-74in. the lever 64. Thespring;73'urge s the .lever e-i-relatively counterclockwise with"respectto the lever 67 as viewed in Figure-2, such movement of theleverfid being limited by engagement of an ear 75 formed integrallyonthe lever 64 with the lower arm obfof the lever 67. Inthe normalposition of-the parts, shown in Figure. 2, the stop ear-'75 is incontact with the lever arm b6, and the spring-73 is preloaded underinitial tension.

A stop ear orfinger 76-on the compound-member'37ds engageable-withthebottomof the shelf 47 of the bracket,

35 for limiting return movement of the-member 37;

Operation When. it'isdesired to. effect repeated-incremental linespacingmovements of the carriage, the key 28-is depressed andhe1d;downzfor aztime depending upon how many incrementalline.spacingmovements itis desired to effect. Depression ofthe key-28wi1l' rock thelever 56'and pull the linkSAforWard-Iy so as to rock the levers 51 and45 in the manner previously explained. Rocking of the shiftingleversnwill cause its nose. 4% to push the compound mernber37 towardtheleft of the machine against the urge of thetspring 43 so as toposition the cam fol-lower member 38, 39. inits operative-- position andenable it to be. operated-by. thescam 29.v Thecontinuously rotating cam29 will then effect a series of operationsof the'carn follower. lever"33 byengagement-ofthe lobe 31 repeatedly Filth the. follower roller39--so as to rock the actuator lever. iflrepeatedlyto bringits n ose 41into engagement with the arm 64 and rock the latter clockwise as viewedin Figure 2.. The shock'which otherwise would-result from the, suddenoperation of the actuator lever 37 by the cam 29, isv absorbedibyt thecushioning spring'73 which transmits motion to the lever '67, rockingthe latter about its trunnions: 63. The'cushioned rocking of the lever65 causes its rounded end part 71 to operate the escapeineut rockerelement 11 inthe-manner-previousJ explained so as to move the escapementdog 18 out of engagement with the escapement wheel 5 and to movethecompanion dog 17 into engagement with thewheel When .thccam lobe 31passes beyond the follower roller 39 th'e escapement normalizing spring25 returns. the rocker plate element 11 to-its' starting position,thereby fli king the level 7 and the arm 64 counterclockwise asjvievwedin Figure 2, causing the arm 64th press against the. actuator lever nosei1 ahdtdreturn the compoundlut mber. 371p, i iS- startihg position" withthe cam 'f lowen roller, 32. in contact with or substantially in contact'with the' low part of the cam 29. The width of the follower roller 39is such that it will engage the cam 29 operatively without requiringthat the roller 39 be shifted to any critical or exact position axiallywith respect to the cam. Consequently, if the key 28 is depressed alittle less than to the full limit of its downward movement, the camroller 39 nevertheless will be positioned for operative engagement withthe cam 29. Similarly, the arm 64 which is operated by the actuatorlever 40, has a contact face 64- which is sufliciently long to beengaged by the nose 41 of the actuator lever 49 irrespective of theshifting of the lever 44 to any exact or critical position. Moreover thecontact face 64 is sufficiently long to be disposed in the path of thenose 41 of the actuator lever 40 even when the compound member 37 is sopositioned that the follower lever 38 is in its inoperative position.This prevents the compound member 37 from rocking counterclockwise asviewed in Figure 1 to a position in which the actuator arm nose 41 wouldbe disposed under the arm or lever 64 and unable to return to its properoperating position.

The mechanism described above may be embodied in typewriters or likemachines which also include mechanism for effecting single operations ofthe escapement mechanism and single incremental letter spacing movementsof the carriage. For example, the arm or lever 64 may be pivoted to therear end of a link 77, as at 78, and the front end of the link may beoperated by power driven mechanism of the kind disclosed in the patentto Hart No. 2,563,722, issued August 7, 1951. The power driven mechanismdisclosed in the Hart patent referred to is such that forward andbackward movement of the link 77, when driven by the repeat operationmechanism disclosed in the present application, would not be interferedwith by the power driven mechanism disclosed in the Hart patent. Thelink 77 may also include a one way drive connection 79, so thatconnection of the front end of the link 77 to any suitable mechanism foreffecting single operations of the escapement mechanism will notinterfere with working of the repeat operation mechanism.

The mechanism disclosed embodies the invention in a preferred form, butit is intended that the disclosure be illustrative rather thandefinitive. The invention is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to beoperated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mountingsaid members so normally relatively positioned that said follower memberis not operable by said cam member; means for shifting one of saidmembers relatively to the other of said members in a direction at anangle to said plane and into an operative position to render saidfollower member operable substantially in said plane by said cam member;actuator means operable by said follower member for actuating saidescapement mechanism element; and control means for effecting operationof said shifting means to shift said one of said members into its saidoperative positron and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensuerepeated operation of said follower member, said actuator means, andsaid element, and a plurality of incremental letter spacing movements ofsaid carriage.

2. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting saidmembers so normally relatively positioned that said follower member isoffset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of said cam member; means for shifting one of said membersparallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member and relatively tothe other of said members into an operative position to render saidfollower member operable by said cam member; actuator means operable bysaid follower member for actuating said escapement mechanism element;and control means for effecting operation of said shifting means toshift said one of said members into its said operative position and tomaintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of saidfollower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a pluralityof incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

3. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame, for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to beoperated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mountingsaid follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable bysaid cam member; means for shifting said follower member relatively tosaid cam member in a direction at an angle to said plane and into anoperative position to render said follower member operable substantiallyin said plane by said cam member; actuator means operable by saidfollower member for actuating said escapementmechanism element; andcontrol means for effecting operation of said shifting means to shiftsaid follower member into its said operative position and to maintain itthere, whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said followermember, said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality ofincremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

4. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting saidmembers so normally relatively positioned that said follower member isoffset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of said cam member and mounting one of said members forshifting parallel to said axis of rotation into an operative position torender said follower member operable by said cam member; a springnormally yieldably holding said one of said members out of its operativeposition; actuator means operable by said follower member for actuatingsaid escapement mechanism element; and control means for effectingoperation of said shifting means to shift said one of said membersagainst the urge of said spring into its said operative position and tomaintain it there, whereby there will ensure repeated operation of saidfollower member, said actuator means, and said element, and a pluralityof incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

5. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam fol- -lower member adapted to beoperated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mountingsaid follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable bysaid cam member and for shifting in a direction at an angle to saidplane and into an operative position in which it is operablesubstantially in said plane by said cam member; a spring yieldablyholding said followermember in its said normal position; means forshifting said follower member against the urge of '7 said spring intoits said operative position; actuator means operable by said followermember for actuating said escapement mechanism element; and controlmeansfor elfecting operationof said shifting means to shift said followermember into its said operative position and to maintain it there,whereby there will ensue repeated operation of said follower member,said actuator means, and said element, and a plurality of incrementalletter spacing movements of said carriage.

6. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated forelfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary earn; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid earn; a camvfollower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaftand to shift parmlel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into anormal position in which it is offset from said cam in a directionparallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which itis in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by saidcam; means for shifting said. follower to its said normal position;means for shifting said follower to its said operative position; andactuator means operable by said cam follower foractuating saidescapement mechanism element.

7.. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid cam; a cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaftand to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into anormal position in which it is offset from said cam in a directionparallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which itis in the plane of operation of saidcarn so as to be operable by saidcam; a spring for yieldably maintaining said cam follower in its saidnormal position; actuator means operable by said cam follower foractuating said escapement mechanism element; and manually manipulatablemeans for shifting said cam follower against the urge of said springinto its said operativeposition and holding it there, whereby there willensue repeated operations of said cam follower and said actuating;means, repeated actuations of said escapement mechanism element, andrepeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

8. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapementmechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to: the axis of rotation ofsaid cam; a' cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaftand to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into anormaliposition in which it is offset from said cam in a directionparallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position: in which itis in the plane of operation of said cam so as tobe operable by saidcam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockableand sliiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of sufiicientlength to "be in the path of and to be operable by said actuator leverwhen the latter is. rocked, irrespective of the-position to which saidactuator lever has been shifted; means oper atively connecting said armto said escapement mechanism element; and manipulatable means forshifting said cam follower from its said normal position touits saidoperative position and maintaining it there, whenebyzthere will ensuerepeated operations of. said cam follower, said actuatorlever, and saidarm, repeated operationstof said escapement mechanism element, andrepeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

9. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary earn; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid cam; a earn follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaftand to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into anormal position in which it is ofiset from said cam in a directionparallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which itis in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by saidcam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockableand shiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of suflicientlength to be in the path of and to be operable by'said actuator leverwhen the latter is rocked, irrespective of the position to which saidactuator lever has been shifted; means operatively connecting said armto said escapement mechanism element; a spring normally yieldablymaintaining said cam follower in its said normal positioma shiftinglever having a part in contact with said actuating lever; andmanipulatable means for operating said shifting lever to cause said partthereof to push against said actuating lever and shift the latter andsaid cam follower against the urge of said spring so as to place saidcam follower in its said operative position, whereby there will ensuerepeated operations of said cam follower, said actuator lever, and saidarm, repeated operations of said escapement mechanism element, andrepeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

10. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated forelfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam; a shaft; means mounting said shaft with its axis parallel tothe axis of rotation of said cam; a cam follower mounted on said shaftfor'both rocking and axial shifting movements; an actuator lever fixedto said cam follower; a spring urging said cam' follower and saidactuator lever axially of said shaft to place said cam follower in anormal position in which it is out of the plane of rotation of said cam;meansfor connecting said actuator lever to said escapement mechanismelement irrespective of the axially shifted positions of saidcam-follower and said actuator lever; and means for shifting said camfollower and said actuator lever against the urge of said spring toplace said cam follower in the plane of said cam, whereby there willensue repeated operations of said cam follower and said actuator lever,repeated actuations of said escapement mechanism element, and repeatedincremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

11. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriage.mounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; acarriage'escapement mechanism including an element adapted to beoperated for effecting incremental letter spacing movements of saidcarriage; a rotary cam membema cooperable'cam follower member adapted tobe operated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mountingsaid members so normally relatively positioned that said follower memberis not operable by said cam member; means for shifting one of saidmembers relatively to the other of said members in a direction at anangle to said plane and into an operative position to render saidfollower member operable substantially in said plane by said cam member;actuator means operable by said follower member; means including acushioned motion transmitting connection interposed between saidactuator means and said escapement'meehanism element for operatingthelatter; and means for causing operation of said'shifting means toshift said' one of said members into its said operative position and tomaintain it there, whereby there will ensue repeated operations of saidfollower member and said actuator means, repeated cushioned operationsof said escapement mechanism element, and repeated incremental letterspacing movements of said carriage.

12. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated forelfecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member, a cooperable cam follower member; means mounting saidmembers so normally relatively positioned that said follower member isoffset from said cam member in a direction parallel to the axis ofrotation of said cam member; means for shifting one of said membersparallel to the axis of rotation of said cam member and relatively tothe other of said members into an operative position to render saidfollower member operable by said cam member; actuator means operable bysaid follower member; means including a cushioned motion transmittingconnection interposed between said actuator means and said escapementmechanism element for operating the latter; and means for causingoperation of said shifting means to shift said one of said members intoits said operative position and to maintain it there, whereby there willensue repeated operations of said follower member and said actuatormeans, repeated cushioned operations of said escapement mechanismelement, and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of saidcarriage.

13. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam member; a cooperable cam follower member adapted to beoperated substantially in a plane by said cam member; means mountingsaid follower member in a normal position in which it is not operable bysaid cam member and for shifting in a direction at an angle to saidplane and into an operative position in which it is operablesubstantially in said plane by said cam member; a spring yieldablyholding said follower member in its said normal position; means forshifting said follower member against the urge of said spring into itssaid operative position; actuator means operable by said followermember; means including a cushioned motion transmitting connectioninterposed between said actuator means and said escapement mechanismelement for operating the latter; and means for causing operation ofsaid shifting means to shift said follower member into its saidoperative position and to maintain it there, whereby there will ensuerepeated operation of said follower member and said actuator means,repeated cushioned operation of said escapement mechanism element, andrepeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

14. In a power operated typewriter or like machine, a frame; a carriagemounted on said frame for letter spacing and return travel; a carriageescapement mechanism including an element adapted to be operated foreffecting incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage; arotary cam; a shaft having its axis parallel to the axis of rotation ofsaid cam; a cam follower mounted to rock about the axis of said shaftand to shift parallel to the axis of said shaft alternatively into anormal position in which it is offset from said cam in a directionparallel to said shaft axis and into an operative position in which itis in the plane of operation of said cam so as to be operable by saidcam; an actuator lever fast with said cam follower and being rockableand shiftable therewith; an arm having a contact face of sufiicientlength to be in the path of and to be operable by said actuator leverwhen the latter is rocked, irrespective of the position to which saidactuator lever has been shifted; means including a cushioned motiontransmitting connection interposed between said arm and said escapementmechanism element; and a key operated mechanism for shifting said camfollower from its normal position into its operative position andmaintaining it in its operative position, whereby there will ensuerepeated operations of said cam follower, said actuator lever, and saidarm, repeated cushioned actuations of said escapement mechanism element,and repeated incremental letter spacing movements of said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS864,601 Blickensderfer Aug. 27, 1907 897,269 Brooks Sept. 1, 1908974,438 Schaalf Nov. 1, 1910 1,356,157 Kurowski Oct. 19, 1920 1,603,215Scherer Oct. 12, 1926 2,294,691 Pitman Sept. 1, 1942 2,563,722 Hart Aug.7, 1951

